Abstract Ridge-furrow farming systems with transparent plastic film have been used extensively for maize (Zea mays L.) production in semi-arid areas. However, with climate warming, problems may arise associated with premature senescence and reduced production. This study examined whether dual mulching of ridges with black plastic film and furrows with straw can delay senescence and increase summer maize yield. Summer maize cultivation experiments were conducted in 2014–2015 by ridge-furrow planting with black (BRM) or transparent (TRM) plastic film mulch over the ridge and wheat straw mulch over the furrow, flat planting with black (BM) or transparent plastic film mulch (TM), and flat planting without mulch (control treatment, CK). The objective of this experiment was to determine the effects of the different mulching treatments on soil water and temperature, evapotranspiration (ET), leaf, photosynthesis rate, yield, and water use efficiency of summer maize. The BRM and TRM treatments were superior to the BM and TM treatments in terms of soil water storage in the 0–200 cm soil profile. The BRM reduced the diurnal variation in the soil temperature and lowered the soil temperature in the root zone. The BRM treatment extended the maize reproductive growth period by 5 days compared with TM, and 2–3 days longer than for the other mulched and control treatments. The BRM also increased the leaf area and dry matter accumulation per plant while significantly increasing the leaf photosynthesis rate. Moreover, BRM increased the 100–seed dry weight and significantly improved yield and water-use efficiency. The 2–year average yield of the BRM treatment was 6.7, 13.4, 18.4, and 72.9 % greater than yield of the TRM, BM, TM, and CK treatments, respectively. The corresponding water-use efficiency improved by 11.2, 13.1, 20.3, and 72.1 %, respectively. Applying the BRM cultivation practice will effectively delay senescence and increase summer maize yield in the agricultural production area of the study region.

中文翻译：

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黑地膜结合秸秆覆盖延缓衰老提高西北夏玉米产量

摘要 带有透明塑料薄膜的垄沟耕作系统已广泛用于半干旱地区的玉米 (Zea mays L.) 生产。然而，随着气候变暖，可能会出现与过早衰老和减产相关的问题。本研究考察了用黑色地膜覆盖垄和用稻草进行犁沟双重覆盖是否可以延缓衰老并提高夏玉米产量。2014-2015年夏玉米栽培试验采用黑色（BRM）或透明（TRM）地膜覆盖垄沟种植、垄沟覆盖小麦秸秆、黑色（BM）或透明地膜平植方式进行夏玉米栽培试验。覆盖物 (TM) 和无覆盖物的平植（对照处理，CK）。本试验的目的是确定不同覆盖处理对夏玉米土壤水分和温度、蒸散量 (ET)、叶片、光合速率、产量和水分利用效率的影响。BRM 和 TRM 处理在 0-200 cm 土壤剖面的土壤储水量方面优于 BM 和 TM 处理。BRM减少了土壤温度的日变化，降低了根区土壤温度。与 TM 相比，BRM 处理延长了玉米生殖生长期 5 天，比其他覆盖和对照处理延长了 2-3 天。BRM 还增加了每株植物的叶面积和干物质积累，同时显着提高了叶片的光合作用速率。而且，BRM 增加了 100 粒种子的干重并显着提高了产量和水分利用效率。BRM 处理的 2 年平均产量分别比 TRM、BM、TM 和 CK 处理的产量高 6.7、13.4、18.4 和 72.9%。相应的用水效率分别提高了 11.2、13.1、20.3 和 72.1%。应用BRM栽培实践将有效延缓研究区农业产区夏玉米的衰老，提高夏玉米产量。